SANTIAGO, Chile – Chile’s prosecutor’s office confirmed Tuesday that President Gabriel Boric is being investigated for sexual harassment, in connection with a case in which the president says he was systematically harassed via email by a woman over a decade ago.
The country’s attorney general, Cristián Crisosto, said in a statement that prosecutors have opened “a criminal case related to” allegations filed by an unidentified woman in September. The complaint alleges sexual harassment as well as the leaking of private images. Crisosto did not provide details of the alleged events, or say when or where they took place.
Boric, 38, has denied the accusations through his attorney, Jonatan Valenzuela, who in a statement described the president as “the victim of systematic harassment via email.” The alleged harassment occurred between July 2013 and July 2014, when Boric was an intern in the southern Chilean city of Punta Arenas, near Patagonia, and was already a well-known figure in national politics thanks to his role in student-led protests a couple of years earlier.
Valenzuela said Boric “never had an emotional or friendly relationship” with the woman and both have not been in communication since July 2014 when she is alleged to have sent the last of dozens of emails, some with explicit images, to the now president. Valenzuela said his team handed authorities all communications between Boric and the woman after learning of her complaint, to “clarify the status of the president as a victim.”
The case marks the first time a sitting Chilean president has been the subject of a formal criminal investigation since the return to democracy in 1990. Political analysts view this development as a significant test for Boric’s administration, which has already faced challenges from a fractured congress, economic slowdown, and rising crime rates. The investigation could overshadow the president’s legislative agenda, including proposed tax reforms and a new constitution.
Gabriel Boric rose to prominence as a student leader in 2011, demanding free and quality education. He later served as a congressman representing the Magallanes region, which includes Punta Arenas. At 35, he became Chile’s youngest president when he took office in March 2022, leading a left-wing coalition that promised to transform the country’s neoliberal economic model. His presidency has been marked by high approval ratings initially, but those have declined amid public frustrations with security and migration issues.
The harassment complaint comes at a delicate moment. Chile is preparing for municipal and regional elections in October 2024, and Boric’s coalition hopes to regain ground lost in the 2023 constitutional referendum. Opponents have seized on the investigation to question the president’s integrity. Right-wing politicians called for Boric to step aside while the probe continues, but the president has maintained he will cooperate fully and remain in office.
Legal experts note that the statute of limitations could be a factor, as the alleged harassment occurred over a decade ago. Under Chilean law, sexual harassment charges have a prescriptive period of five years, but the nature of the allegations—including the leaking of private images—might extend that timeline. The prosecutor’s office has not commented on the legal viability of the complaint.
The woman’s identity remains protected under Chilean law, but local media reports suggest she is a former acquaintance of Boric. The president’s legal team has portrayed her as someone who repeatedly sent unsolicited emails of a sexual nature, causing distress to Boric at the time. They provided copies of the emails to the prosecution, arguing these show Boric as the target of unwanted advances.
Women’s rights groups in Chile have expressed caution, urging that the investigation be thorough and impartial. Some activists worry that the high-profile nature of the case could deter victims from reporting harassment, while others see it as a test of Chile’s judicial system when confronting allegations against powerful figures. President Boric, who has positioned himself as a feminist ally, appointed a gender-balanced cabinet and championed a feminist foreign policy. The case thus carries deep symbolic weight.
Historically, Chile has struggled with high rates of gender-based violence. In 2018, massive protests against femicides and institutional sexism spurred reforms, including a new gender identity law and stricter penalties for sexual crimes. Boric’s government has pushed for a comprehensive sexual violence law, currently stalled in congress. Critics now question whether the president’s personal conduct aligns with his public advocacy.
The Interior Ministry declined to comment, stating the judiciary will handle the matter independently. Government spokeswoman Camila Vallejo reiterated support for Boric, saying the president trusts the judicial process and expects his innocence to be proven. Vallejo called on the public to avoid prejudging the case based on unsubstantiated claims.
As the investigation unfolds, Boric continues his official duties. He met this week with regional governors to discuss public safety initiatives. Meanwhile, opposition leaders filed a separate request for Congress to form an investigative commission, which would allow lawmakers to summon witnesses and documents—a move the government argues is premature and could politicize the process.
Chilean law allows for a citizen complaint to trigger a criminal investigation, and prosecutors must decide within a fixed period whether to formally charge the accused. In Boric’s case, the attorney general has opened a preliminary phase. The next steps could include questioning the president, the complainant, and any witnesses, as well as forensic analysis of the emails. If sufficient evidence exists, a formal indictment may follow; if not, the case will be dismissed.
The timing of the complaint, just months before elections, has fueled speculation about political motivations. Boric’s lawyer dismissed such claims, saying the president is focused on his duties and will cooperate with the investigation. “We have nothing to hide,” Valenzuela said. “The emails speak for themselves.”
This story updates previous reports from the Associated Press and other sources. The investigation is ongoing, and no charges have been filed. The president remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Source: WKMG News